First season as a club finished; first premiership achieved.
Shepparton Eagles secured the Goulburn Murray Storm Men’s Premiership on Saturday afternoon after outlasting Tumbarumba in a thriller at Glenrowan Recreation Reserve, located halfway between Benalla and Wangaratta.
After a 16-year absence Shepparton Eagles Rugby League Club was reborn for 2024 and has immediately found success.
The Eagles finished the home and away season on top of the ladder with a record of 12-1-1.
Two weeks after defeating Tumbarumba in the semi-final, the Eagles once again faced Tumba, only this time it was in the grand final.
Eagles player-coach Fili Fili said he and his players knew they had to start the game well against a quality side like Tumbarumba.
“Every time we come up against Tumba, it is a hard and physical game,” Fili said.
“But that was our mentality; we had to start strong.
“It’s just like any other grand final coming in; there was a lot of pressure.”
The Eagles got what they wanted and started the match in blistering fashion, scoring three tries and three conversions in the first 16 minutes.
Shepparton held firm for the remainder of the first half, taking a 24-12 lead into the sheds.
However, Fili said Tumba caught the Eagles napping in the second half.
“I think a few of our boys fell asleep after half-time,” he said.
“I think most of us must have been half-asleep in the second half as we made a lot of errors and we piggy-backed them down to their try line and gave them easy tries; it was penalty after penalty.
“There was just no discipline in the second half.”
Fortunately for the Eagles, they escaped with a victory by the skin of their beaks.
Shepparton won the tight grand final encounter against Tumbarumba by two points, 24-22.
With a big crowd and lots of Eagles supporters making the journey to Glenrowan, Fili said the celebrations had been going on since.
“We had a lot of people drive down to Glenrowan and they were loud,” he said.
“Even after the game, the celebrations are still going on now.
“I think a lot of the boys are calling in sick today.”
Shepparton second rower Vaai Vaai (one try) secured man-of-the-match honours for his efforts on the day.
However, a grand final victory is never thanks to just one player, with Fili saying that many Eagles performed well when the match was there to be won early.
“A lot of the boys stood up, especially our key players,” he said.
“Our props, Brent (Falefitu) and Semi (Tafili), Vaai and (Potaua) Tawhi.
“Most of the boys did really well.”
Fili said everyone at the Eagles had helped create a vibrant atmosphere for players and their families throughout their first season back as a club.
“We have a good community here in Shepp and a lot of people have been hearing how well we have been going and we have been getting a lot of love from our community,” he said.
“Shoutout to the Shepparton Bulls (rugby union) as well; they went back-to-back in their grand final.
“We have a good tight-knit community, and a lot of our younger kids are willing to learn, love the game of rugby league and give it a go.”
As first seasons go, the Eagles’ premiership-winning year would have to rank highly in Goulburn Valley sporting history.
Fili said he didn’t expect Shepparton to reach the levels it had so early in its history as an organisation.
“Starting a new club, I knew it would be hard,” he said.
“I trusted God that he would provide and give us a way to get this club up and running successfully to what it is now.
“Bringing in the right people for the committee and a lot of people helping from behind the scenes; our club wouldn’t be where it is right now if it wasn’t for them and all our sponsors.”